Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has assured that all carry-on luggage will arrive in Nigeria before the pilgrims leave Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to newsmen in Makkah on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Luggage Committee, Professor Muhammad Mustapha Gwadabe, gave the assurance as the second batch of Kaduna pilgrims arrived in Nigeria.
Professor Muhammad Mustapha Gwadabe assured pilgrims that adequate arrangements have been put in place to prevent the loss of luggage.
He further said officials of the Agency were already on ground to secure the luggage and advised that pilgrims should collect their luggage personally.
According to him, luggage will neither be given to third-parties, nor will bulk clearance of luggage be allowed.
Explaining how the process works, Prof. Gwadabe said that the luggage is first weighed in Makkah to ensure it complies with the 32-kilogram limit.
“Thereafter, the luggage will be tagged, and the owner will be given a card whose number and other details correspond with the tag.
“When he or she arrives at the Mando Hajj Camp upon reaching Kaduna, he or she will present the card to the officials, who will locate and bring the luggage to the owner.”
“The officials will scrutinize the pilgrim’s passport to determine whether he or she was supposed to be on the flight in the first place.
“Thereafter, they will check the card to see if the number and other security details correspond with the tag on the luggage,” he added.
Prof. Gwadabe pointed out that there are also security officials, such as police, Civil Defence, Immigration personnel, and officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, on hand to check against the importation of illegal items.
The Committee Chairman also mentioned that the luggage is usually stored in secure locations to protect it from the weather.
He further said that pilgrims were advised to seal their luggage with adhesive tapes in Makkah, so as to protect them from possible rain in Nigeria.
The Committee Chairman advised pilgrims to adhere to the 32-kilogram weight limit, emphasizing that the Agency will not transport any luggage exceeding this limit.
SAFIYAH ABDULKADIR
